Pyx
/pɪks/noun
A container, especially in the Christian Church, for holding consecrated hosts; also, the box used in assaying coins.
Did you know?Pyx comes through Latin from Greek pyxis, originally a small box made of boxwood, and its church use made it part of the ritual of testing holy objects and coins.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
GRK
pyxís
“A small box, especially one made of boxwood”
Latin
LAT
pyxis
“A small box or case”
Late Latin / Medieval Latin
LAT
pyxis
“A receptacle or container used in ecclesiastical contexts”
Middle English
ENG
pyx
“A box for keeping the consecrated host or for assaying coins”
Modern English
ENG
pyx
“A church vessel for reserved communion hosts; by extension, an assaying box”